Contract bridge game device



Mom R, 194% w. F. sTRo CONTRACT BRIDGE GAME DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 21, 1946 CONTRACT BRIDGE GAME DEVICE Fileci Sept. 21, 1946 5 Shams-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WALLACE. FIaEDERIc STROH WWW, H N M W. F. STROH CONTRACT BRIDG E GAME DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR \A/ALLACE Hwnzmc Smog NW. 1. 1949 w. F. STROH 1.

CONTRACT BRIDGE GAME DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1 946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PAT EN T OFFICE CONTRACT BRIDGE GAME DEVICE Wallace Frederic Stroh, Comstock, N. Y., assig'nflr of fifteenv per cent to Anna. Piretra, Palisade,

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved game board and has particular relation to a device of this type adapted to instruct the user in the proper playing of the game known as contract bridge. Further a player using the device need not obtain either partner or opponents and may receive instruction through actual playing.

It isan object of the invention to provide means whereby a player has indicated to him the proper manner of playing a particular game and at. the same time has before him at least one alternate method of play.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a solitaire bridge game.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel means for indicating the progress of a particular game.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a self-teaching bridge game having removable members representing bridge deals and having a guide to conventional lines of play.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel stylus operated indicators which may be used singly or a row at a time with. a zipper effect.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming amaterial part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a contract bridge game board constructed according to one form of the invention.

Fig. 2. is a perspective view of a part of any one of the four normal bridge playing positions and illustrates a tap or push motion that causes simulated cards to individually appear or dis appearfrom the players view.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a part of. any one of the four normal bridge positions and showing in particular the row of thirteen simulated cards concealed under their respective masks or coverings and illustrating a manual operation to pro.- duce a zipper effect through the use of a stylus drawn along the line. A-A to facilitate a. spontaneous and substantially simultaneous appearance or disappearance of. all thirteen simulated cards in any one hand or playing position- Fig. 4 is a plan view of the face member of the game board shown in Figure I.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a base board forming a part of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of. a removable deal sheet forming a part of the invention.

Fig. 'l is'a plan. View of amasking sheet utilized in the invention.

Fig. 8 is a detailed View of a portion of the invention.

Fig- 9 is a perspective view of a stylus used in carrying out the invention.

Fig. 10 is a sectional View taken substantially along line 10-! of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein a game board comprising a substantially square open-topped box It] having sides H and an inwardly extending frame member t2. Legs 13 are: mounted one at each corner to provide a support for the board.

A base board M lies within and is spaced from the bottom. oi the box H] by means of four aligning. pegs 15 having narrowed upwardly extending portions 16 which protrude through openings H in the base board. M, a removable deal sheet H3, a masking shield. member l9 and a face member 20, respectively, to properly position the same.

It will be seen that the face member 2a is hinged at its upper edge by means of an adhesive strip or the like to the frame member I2 and is provided with a plurality of. openings 22 arranged in four groups to represent four hands of a game bridge. Attached to: the face member is a bracket ihi adapted to hold in place a stylus 24 whenthe latter is notinuse;

Positioned beneath the: face member 20 is the masking shield member 19 which is so cut as to provide a plurality of flexible flaps 25 which register with the openings 22 in the face sheet.

Beneath the. shield member i9 is positioned a removable dealt sheet l8 cut in such manner as to provide flexible indic'iabearing flaps 26 adapted to register and coact with the flaps 25 in a man-- ner hereinafter set forth. This deal sheet has printed on its. surface an analysis and. instructions concerning the particular bridge game it sets forth, as. indicated at- 21'. A. tab 28 for lifting the sheet is attached centrally at its lower end and is adapted to lie in a groove 29 cut in the frame member 2 The base board is provided with a plurality of openings 30* adapted toregister with the openings 22 and flaps 25 and 2:6 and likewise to allow for free operation of the flaps by meansof the stylus in a manner hereinafter to be described.

In operation. itlbe apparentthat the player will first select a. deal sheet t8; placing the same between the masking shield l9 and'thebase board M. The masking shield and the face member 20 are then positioned by means of the pins l and openings l'i over the deal sheet and play is ready to begin, the player having first read the problem and instructions as indicated at 3| on the deal sheet. The stylus 24 is now taken by the player and he may, if desired, expose an entire row of the indicia bearing flaps 26 by running the stylus along one edge of the elongated openings 22 or he may expose a single flap by pressing downwardly with the stylus. By proper manipulation of the stylus, an indicia bearing flap may be exposed and again shielded any desired number of times at the will of the player.

It will be noted that there may be exposed in the elongated openings 22 flaps bearing indications of particular playing cards and that on either side of such openings is provided a row of smaller openings allowing for certain numbers to appear. l'his construction allows the player to use an alternate method of play, thus providing a game board which is not only en oyable but instructive.

It is to be understood that the deal sheets may be changed from time to time, thus allowing for a constant change in the bridge problems presented.

The material utilized in forming the deal sheet and masking shield is preferably of springy material such as, for example, a plastic composition or a plastic sprayed paper.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications ,coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my inventioin, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A game board, comprising a box having a top wall formed with an opening and a bottom wall spaced from said top wall, a base board within said box, a deal sheet superimposed on said base board, a masking shield member superimposed on said deal sheet, a face member superimposed on said masking shield member, said base board and superimposed deal sheet, masking shield member and face member occupying less than all the space between said top and bottom walls, and pegs supporting said base board, deal sheet, masking shield member and face member in a position in which the top face of said face member will be flush with the top face of said top wall of said box.

2. A game board, comprising a box having a top wall formed with an opening and a bottom wall spaced from said top wall, a base board within said box, a deal sheet superimposed on said base board, a masking shield member superimposed on said deal sheet, a face member superimposed on said masking shield member, said base board and superimposed deal sheet, masking shield member and face member occupying less than all the space between said top and bottom walls, and pegs supporting said base board, deal sheet, masking shield member and face member in a position in which the top face of said face member will be flush with the top face of said top wall of said box, said pegs being formed with reduced upwardly extending portions engaging aligned openings formed in said superimposed base board, deal sheet, masking shield member and face member.

3. A game board, comprising a box having a top wall formed with an opening and a bottom wall spaced from said top wall, a base board within said box, a deal sheet superimposed on said base board, a masking shield member superimposed on said deal sheet, a face member superimposed on said masking shield member, said base board and superimposed deal sheet, masking shield member and face member occupying less than all the space between said top and bottom walls, and pegs supporting said base board, deal sheet, masking shield member and face member in a position in which the top face of said face member will be flush with the top face of said top wall of said box, said face member and said base board being formed with aligned elongated slots, tabs formed on said deal sheet and extended substantially across said aligned slots from one longitudinal edge thereof, indicia formed on the top face of said tabs and viewable through the elongated slot in said face member, tabs formed on said masking shield member and extended substantially across said aligned slots in alignment with the tabs of said deal sheet from the other longitudinal edge of said aligned slots and normally superimposed on the tabs of said deal sheet, to cover the indicia on the tabs of said deal sheet, said deal sheet and said masking shield member being formed of flexible material, whereby the superimposed tabs may be depressed to allow the free edges of the tabs on said deal sheet to pass the free edges of the tabs on said masking shield member so that the tabs on said deal sheet may assume a position superimposed on the tabs of said masking shield member to expose the indicia normally covered by said latter tabs.

4. In a game board, a face member formed with an elongated slot, a masking shield member below said face member, a deal sheet below said masking shield member, tabs formed on said deal sheet in alignment with said slot and extended substantially all the way across said slot from one longitudinal edge thereof, indicia formed on the top face of said tabs and normally viewable through said slot, tabs formed on said masking shield member and extended substantially all the way across said slot in alignment with the tabs of said deal sheet and from the other longitudinal edge of said slot and normally superimposed on the tabs of said deal sheet to cover the indicia on the tabs of said deal sheet.

5. In a game board, a face member formed with an elongated slot, a masking shield member below said face member, a deal sheet below said masking shield member, tabs formed on said deal sheet in alignment with said slot and extended substantially all the way across said slot from one longitudinal edge thereof, indicia formed on the top face of said tabs and normally viewable through said slot, tabs formed on said masking shield member and extended substantially all the way across said slot in alignment with the tabs of said deal sheet and from the other longitudinal edge of said slot and normally superimposed on the tabs of said deal sheet to cover the indicia on the tabs of said deal sheet, said deal sheet and said masking shield member being formed of flexible material, whereby the said superimposed tabs may be depressed to allow the free edges of the tabs on said deal sheet to pass the free edges of the tabs on said masking shield member so that the tabs on said deal sheet may assume a position superimposed on the tabs of said masking shield member to expose the indicia normally covered by said latter tabs.

6. In a gaine board, a face member formed with an elongated slot, a masking shield member below said face member, a deal sheet below said masking shield member, tabs formed on said deal sheet in alignment with said slot and extended substantially all the way across said slot from one longitudinal edge thereof, indicia formed on the top face of said tabs and normally viewable through said slot, tabs formed on said masking shield member and extended substantially all the way across said slot in alignment with the tabs of said deal sheet and from the other longitudinal edge of said slot and normally superimposed on the tabs of said deal sheet to cover the indicia on the tabs of said deal sheet, said deal sheet and said masking shield member being formed of flexible material, whereby, the said superimposed tabs may be depressed to allow the free edges of the tabs on said deal sheet to pass the free edges of the tabs on said masking shield member so beneath said deal sheet formed with a slot coextensive with said slot in said face member and about the longitudinal edges of which the tabs flex when depressed.

7. In a game board, a face member formed with an elongated slot, a masking shield member below said face member, a deal sheet below said masking shield member, tabs formed on said deal sheet in alignment with said slot and extended substantially all the way across said slot from one longitudinal edge thereof, indicia formed on the top face of said tabs and normally viewable through said slot, tabs formed on said masking shield member and extended substantially all the way across said slot in alignment with the tabs of said deal sheet and from the other longitudinal edge of said slot and normally superimposed on the tabs of said deal sheet, to cover the indicia on the tabs of said deal sheet, said deal sheet and said masking shield member being formed of flexible material, whereby, the said superimposed tabs may be depressed to allow the free edges of the tabs on said deal sheet to pass the free edges of the tabs on said masking shield member so that the tabs on said deal sheet may assume a position superimposed on the tabs of said masking shield member to expose the indicia normally covered by said latter tabs, and means holding said deal sheet, masking shield member and face member in a superimposed raised position so that said tabs may be depressed.

8. A game board, comprising a rectangular case, having therein a plurality of shouldered pins, a base board mounted on said pins and resting on the shoulders thereof, a deal sheet mounted on said pins and resting on said base board, a masking shield member mounted on said pins and resting on said deal sheet, and a face member mounted on said pins and resting on said masking shield member, said base board having four slots therein, said deal sheet having four rows of tabs disposed over said four slots, said masking shield member having four rows of tabs disposed over and oppositely directed to the tabs of said deal sheet, said face member having four slots disposed over said tabs and in line with the slots of said base board, said tabs of said deal sheet having indicia thereon normally covered by the tabs of said masking shield member, said tabs extending from opposite sides of said aligned slots toward but not all the way to the other side thereof, whereby, when one of said tabs of said masking shield member is pressed down, it passes under the adjacent deal sheet tab exposing the same, said tabs being resilient and tending to stay parallel to the plane of said deal sheet and masking shield member, said tabs passing through said slots of said base board when being interchanged.

9. A game board, comprising a rectangular case, having therein a plurality of shouldered pins, a base board mounted on said pins and resting on the shoulders thereof, a deal sheet mounted on said pins and resting on said base board, a masking shield member mounted on said pins and resting on said deal sheet, and a face member mounted on said pins and resting on said masking shield member, said base board having four slots therein, said deal sheet having four rows of tabs disposed over said four slots, said masking shield member having four rows of tabs disposed over and oppositely directed to the tabs of said deal sheet, said face member having four slots disposed over said tabs and in line with the slots of said base board, said tabs of said deal sheet having indicia thereon normally covered by the tabs of said masking shield member, said tabs extending from opposite sides of said aligned slots toward, but not all the way to, the other side thereof, whereby, when one of said tabs of said masking shield member is pressed down, it passes under the adjacent deal sheet tab exposing the same, said tabs being resilient and tending to stay parallel to the plane of said deal sheet and masking shield member, said tabs passing through said slots of said base board when being interchanged, and a stylus for pressing said tabs downward in each of said face sheet slots exposing a row of said tabs of said masking shield member, whereby, said exposed tabs of each slot may be quickly interchanged to expose the indicia on all the respective tabs of said deal sheet by drawing said stylus along the side of said slot remote from the free ends of said tabs of said masking shield member while simultaneously pressing downward on said stylus.

WALLACE FREDERIC STROH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,930,008 Goodwin Oct. 10, 1933 2,124,941 Ellis July 26, 1938 

